Explore Travel Trends Shaping Tourism in 2024

An Overview of Current Travel Trends in India

Before hopping on to the new trends in the travel and tourism industry, let us first take a look at what is currently happening in the Indian tourism industry.

• The rising purchasing power of middle-class Indian families is one of the biggest contributors to the country's increasing travel enthusiasm. This demographic represents 31% of the current population and is projected to reach 38% by 2031 and 60% by 2047, per a report by People Research on India’s Consumer Economy-India’s Citizen Environment (PRICE-ICE).
• Another major contributing factor is the new generation’s focus on finding and maximizing the right travel experience rather than worrying about the travel costs involved.
• In a recent American Express 2024 Global Travel Trends report, 89% of its respondents were positive about using ‘travel hacks’ for better experiences and to save money. This includes hacks like travelling during off-peak season or using credit card points.

India’s focus on enhancing the travel experience has resulted in a myriad of travel events and conclaves that bring various stakeholders, like the government, industry leaders, associations, international exhibitors, travel tech experts, etc., to one place to discuss the current and future travel market.

Global Travel Trends in 2024: A Sneak-Peek

While many new travel and tourism trends are reshaping the industry, listed below are some of the popular ones:

• Astro Tourism
• Sports Enthusiasm
• Sustainability
• Wellness Tourism
• Recreation & Leisure
• Longer Trips

1. Astro Tourism

   The rising craze of witnessing night skies and natural phenomena makes Astro Tourism an integral travel trend that can further bring innovation and reshape the tourism industry.

   Moreover, 2024 is an important year astronomically—from the Blue Moon and meteor showers to the strongest Northern Lights and planet conjunctions—this year has it all!!

2. Sports Enthusiasm

   If you think people travel only for business and vacation, you are in for a surprise. One of the rapidly rising reasons people travel globally is for watching sports! In fact, a recent travel trends report shows that 23% of Indians factor sporting events into their vacation plans.

   Whether it is the Olympics, a domestic team’s cricket match, or their favourite international team’s football game, people are travelling across borders to root for their team while simultaneously accumulating heightened experiences of various emotions.

3. Sustainability

   Sustainability is more than a buzzword; it forms a cornerstone for many global projects. You can see its practice being followed across various areas of life, including travel.

   Tourists are now taking conscious actions to support sustainability concepts by opting for eco-friendly accommodations, carrying reusable bags & containers to minimize plastic waste, reducing carbon footprints, etc.

4. Wellness Tourism

   With Indians prioritizing their health, Wellness Tourism is emerging as a viral travel trend in 2024. People are putting their holistic well-being on top and seeking retreats that offer a blend of physical, spiritual, and psychological well-being.

   This includes yoga retreats, spa retreats, naturopathy and aromatherapy retreats, wellness-focused culinary experiences, ecotourism retreats, etc.

5. Recreation & Leisure

   While people have always been traveling for leisure, this trend never fades away and only keeps elevating with time. Many people are now traveling across borders for recreation and leisure. They want top-notch experience with all the necessary services and facilities for recreational activities at their accommodation.

6. Longer Trips

   People are choosing to make longer travel plans, covering more than one place. For instance, when travelling to Assam, tourists try to cover as many Northeastern states as possible. This allows them to explore more places and better immerse in local culture by adding just a few more days and spending a few more bucks.